Originally published in The Times of India on December 16, 2020
Hyderabad: Hyderabad FC came back from a goal down to defeat SC East Bengal 3-2 at the Tilak Maidan on Tuesday.
A Jaques Maghoma strike gave SC East Bengal a 1-0 lead at the end of first-half. A quick-fire brace by Aridane Santana and a tap-in by Halicharan Narzary saw the Nizams lead the game 3-1. Maghoma grabbed a consolation goal for the Red and Gold Brigade at the end.
The game got off to a physical start, with players from both sides being taken down. Hyderabad threatened first, as Halicharan Narzary delivered a sharp cutback to Aridane in front of goal, who saw the ball cleared away.
Hyderabad imposed a pressing game, seeking to outfox the East Bengal defence. Aridane pounced on a weak goal-kick from East Bengal keeper Debjit Majumder, but there was no one at the end of his cross. Minutes later, Odei Onaindia’s header was defended away, with Hitesh Sharma depositing the resulting loose ball over the post.
Aridane nearly broke the deadlock when Mohammad Yasir delivered an outswinging free-kick, but the resultant near-post shot was driven away by Majumder.
Jaques Maghoma scored the first goal by SC East Bengal in ISL when he delivered a floored shot inside the net from a Matti Steinmann through-ball just before the half-hour mark.
Nikhil Poojary wasted a chance to draw Hyderabad level minutes later when he delivered a weak header from inside the box and watched it fly wide of goal.
Despite Hyderabad dominating the possession, East Bengal did well to break their flow of play by winning the ball in the middle of the field.
Aridane almost equalized for Hyderabad before half-time when the team were awarded a penalty, but Majumder made an assured save by diving to his right, protecting Bengal’s lead.
Hyderabad started the second-half brightly, with substitute Liston Colaco and Yasir creating attacks, though the final shot was lacking.
Aridane broke Hyderabad’s drought when he scored two goals within 39 seconds to put the Nizams ahead. For the first goal, Yasir delivered a free-kick towards goal, which the Spaniard gently headed inside the net. The second goal came just 15 seconds after the restart, when Yasir won the ball in the middle of the field and delivered it to Colaco, who threaded a through-ball for Aridane to drive home from close range.
Colaco increased Hyderabad’s lead as he made a stunning solo run from the midfield, leaving Bengal defenders in a tizzy and setting up a simple tap-in for Narzary.
Maghoma brought Bengal back in the match when he headed an Anthony Pilkington free-kick inside the net 10 minutes before the end of regular time.
The end-to-end game finished 3-2, and saw SC East Bengal remain at the bottom of the table. Hyderabad FC are at the 5th position, just behind Bengaluru FC on goal difference.
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